Climate Benefits of One of the Oldest Technologies Still in Use

(Diesel Technology Forum) Thanks to decades of innovation, clean diesel technology is helping to deliver significant reductions in GHG emissions and is a major feature of the U.S. climate commitment outlined in the INDC that explains how the U.S. will cut GHG emissions by at least 26 percent by 2025.

As industry and governments work to realize the recent climate agreement reached in Paris, diesel technology is hard at work delivering people and goods and performing work on roadways and on farms across the globe. Thanks to decades of innovation in clean diesel technology – from advanced engine designs, exhaust aftertreatment solutions, and next generation bio-based diesel fuel – these innovations are helping to deliver significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and are a major feature of the U.S. climate commitment outlined in the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) that explains how the U.S. will cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26 percent by 2025.

In the U.S., over 95 percent of commercial vehicles are powered by a diesel engine.

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The original patent for the diesel engine submitted by Rudolph Diesel over a decade ago envisioned the engine operating on biofuels – peanut oil in particular. Today, not much has changed. Most heavy-duty diesel engines can operate on high quality blends of biodiesel, an advanced biofuel capable of reducing carbon emissions by at least 50 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As bio-based diesel fuels are derived from waste agricultural feedstocks, primarily waste soy beans and animal fats, fuel production is not subject to “food vs fuel” issues.

Bio-based diesel fuels are growing in importance and large municipalities are committed to using these advanced biofuels as part of their sustainability initiatives. Already, the city of San Francisco announced that it is using nothing but renewable diesel fuel to power all of the city’s diesel powered vehicles and equipment. Still yet, the City of New York just announced this week that it is committed to use greater blends of biodiesel along with greater use of renewable diesel. In fact, about 34 percent of New York City’s planned greenhouse gas reduction is attributable to greater use of alternative fuels, the majority being bio-based diesel fuel.

The benefits of diesel engines go beyond their ability to operate on advanced biofuels. READ MORE